Kewanee — Chapter 6: The Mugen

Previous chapter: Nisan

Unlike the view from Arkaster, the Muir Concordia was narrow enough here to distinguish Kirighai on the other side. Despite this, throwing a bridge over these twenty kilometers of water was delusional. The first settlers naturally sailed there, until Niavhe convinced them to turn away. But there it was nontheless. Irregular, angled, as the small islands went by. But longer than anything that had ever been made. If not for the horizon that it skimmed, it could have been a path to the sky. Kewanee had been moved by sunsets on the docks, by Alteration wonders, or even by the dance of fireflies over a mountain lake. But nothing could compare to the sense of awe that shook her when she discovered Yong-Su’s eternal creation.

While she stood in contemplation, Ontemon sat in meditation. The Skein grew stronger as they approached the Katkera. The eternally anchored bridge somewhat amplified the life thriving on the other side. The healer was looking for peace, but an unexpected sense of danger overcame him instead. Something was wrong, but the Muna connection, unlike the Gestalt, only carried feelings. He would have to reach the first Refuge to investigate this. Suddenly impatient, he asked Kewanee if she was ready to cross. She nodded.

Each section of the Mugen was made of a different material. The first four were stone, ranging from black basalt to white marble. The one leading to Yong-Su Tenzing’s altar, made of oak, was the second of eleven wooden platforms. Even if Ontemon would have gladly run, nightfall required them to sleep on one of the islands. And of course, the Muna could never cross without honoring the spirits of Kirighai. Thus, the two companions stopped before each altar to address a prayer to its Eidolon. Most of them were unfamiliar to the young Arkasterian, and she pressed her mentor with questions. The biggest surprise for her stood under the fourteenth torii. A statue depicted a strong women dressed for travel facing a big brown bear. 

“Ulwyn was a strong leader of her time. Soon after Kirighai’s first exploration, the Prospectors’ Guild started looking for deposits of rare metals. The wildlife reacted violently to the drilling, and when the first Asgarthan was killed, weapons were drawn. Ulwyn both negotiated peace and united the animals to protect their land. The settlements were finally abandoned thanks to Kaibara and Niavhe, but Ulwyn at least made sure no mines opened.”

“She must have been very brave,” commented Kewanee. “How did she convince the bear?”

For the first time in hours, Ontemon laughed. “You got me wrong. Ulwyn is the bear!”

The last four bridges were the dazzling ones: the straw was stronger than it looked, followed by million-year-old amber, then glass, reflecting the sunlight in rainbows. The last one was still debated among Yzmir scholars. The most widely accepted theory held that it was pure, solidified Mana. Kewanee, like many before her, hesitated strongly before daring to set foot on this one, and kept her eyes down until she reached the end of it. When she finally dared look up, branches had replaced the sky. The forest was everywhere.

   Kewanee — Chapter 5: Nisan

Previous chapter: The Endeavor

Ontemon was leaving for a couple of weeks, on a pilgrimage to one of Kirighai’s Refuges. He had suggested that Kewanee accompany him, so she could learn more about the Muna. It would be the first time she had ever left Caer Eidos. For sixteen years, she had only known its fjords and canals, and the many rocky spines the Bravos fancied climbing. The forest was a complete mystery to her. This, of course, held some appeal for an adventurous young woman like her. She quickly agreed to go. Her fathers, although worried about the dangers of the wild and the risk of Tumult singularities, both agreed that she was old enough to explore the world. The Stata Matter granted her two weeks of vacation on the condition that she still provide first aid to any travelers in need, which went without saying.

Equipped in the Bravos way, with tight black pants, a wide red shirt, and a heavy backpack, she met the Muna healer at Svarga’s train station. The place was crowded with handlers loading or unloading supplies. Ontemon traveled lighter, confident that he would find everything he needed on the way. Tramway line 2 took them as far as Kladiver, where a Kelonic boat would carry them to the island of Nisan. The northern district lived up to its sinister reputation: its large, paved streets, once destined to greatness, were deserted, and the only light came from grim taverns packed with noisy sailors. Although not welcoming, at least this district was safe. The same could not be said of the one standing on the other side of the Sforafjord. The unfinished buildings of Usku, and its sister Koru, had been abandoned to criminals. To avoid both, the wheezing boat landed them north of the city, in a small creek.

Even if Kewanee had never set foot on Nisan, the landscapes of Caer Eidos’ third island looked familiar. But after half a day’s walk along colossal canyons and roaring rivers, she eventually noticed how different it was: in Kemeri and Sekent, you never lost sight of a human settlement. Here, of course, the path between Arkaster and the Mugen was also clearly marked. But apart from that, the only life was either wild or travelers like themselves. Close to Arkaster, the animals they encountered were the same as the ones she had observed in Kemeri’s mountains: marmots, red ibex and three-tails eagles, for the most impressive ones. But as they ventured further, so did nature’s creativity. The sunlight was obscured for a moment when a multicolored vulture, with a wingspan of four meters and a back covered in scales, flew over them. The following day, Ontemon pointed at what could have been a giant cat —if he hadn’t, she never would have noticed it.

“A shadow lynx”, he said, uneasily. “They are magnificent creatures. The color of their fur shifts as a camouflage. But they attack at night, we’ll need to take turns keeping the fire burning.”

For the first time in her life, Kewanee was afraid of something she did not control. As a Bravos or a Stata Matter agent, she often had thrown herself willingly into danger, but there had always been a way to turn back—though she never did. Living in a metropolis, she wasn’t used to untamed threats. Even Tumult singularities were almost completely contained by the Yzmir. Wilderness was nothing alike. That night, even during the healer’s rotation, she couldn’t sleep. And when her turn came, every slight sound made her heart pound like the Foundry’s pumps. When the sun finally appeared, she was both exhausted and relieved. 

They finally reached the Mugen on the third day, and a fourth one would be necessary to cross it. The teenager had heard stories about the miraculous bridge, of course. But nothing—oh, mighty—had prepared her for this sight.

Next chapter: The Mugen